Knesset passes Judea, Samaria sovereignty bills in preliminary reading

(JNS) — Israeli lawmakers on Wednesday passed in preliminary reading two opposition bills to extend legal sovereignty to Judea and Samaria.

One bill, by Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Liberman, seeks to annex Ma’ale Adumim, a large city in the Judean Desert, while a second, by Noam Party head Avi Maoz, concerns all of Judea and Samaria.

The legislation will now be forwarded to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for consideration ahead of three additional votes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had sought to thwart the bills, which were put to a vote as U.S. Vice Presid...